In order to answer this question, let’s turn to a Rashi in Ki Sisa. Rashi (Shemos 34:3) is explaining why Hashem summoned Moshe to receive the second set of Luchos by himself (“And no man may ascend with you…”), while the first set of Luchos were given with great pomp and ceremony. “The first Tablets were given with fanfare, great sounds, and amongst the entire congregation. Consequently, they were inflicted with ayin hara. [Therefore, the second set of Luchos were given in a private fashion, for] there is nothing better than tznius.” This Rashi is quite perplexing. First, how could we dare say that Hashem did something wrong and immodest? Second, who gave the ayin hara?
Let’s take a detour to understand what ayin hara is and then perhaps we can answer these questions. Rav Dessler writes in the Michtav M’Eliyahu that ayin hara is an ethical issue. Hashem may bless you with all sorts of wonderful things, but you shouldn’t be sticking it in other people’s faces. If what you have causes pain to other people Hashem may decide you shouldn’t have it anymore. Therefore, the best option is to keep your blessings hidden.
Now perhaps we can explain what happened at Har Sinai. Of course Hashem did nothing wrong by giving the Luchos with all the fanfare. The Handiwork of G-d was given with the splendor it deserved. However, the great revelation provided a test. Perhaps it was a test for the gentile nations, who failed and cast a jealous evil eye toward the Chosen People. Or perhaps it was test for the Jewish people themselves, who, upon finding it difficult to fully submit, cast an ayin hara towards the Luchos containing the law which would dictate their lives from here on. Either way, the great fanfare caused an ayin hara, which resulted in the Luchos being broken.
Now let’s backtrack to our discussion about hiddenness. Of course tznius is a laudable trait, and of course it’s not a good thing for Hashem to be hidden. The differentiation we need to make is the difference between revealed and ostentatious. Nobody ever said that everything beautiful has to be locked away, but nobody said that the blessings you have should be put in other people’s faces either. The Mishkan was beautiful, but was covered over so it wouldn’t be ostentatious. Hashem surely did the right thing by Har Sinai, because ideally, He should be revealed in the world, but the grandiose display was challenging for the people. Hashem tested His creations, and tragically, they failed the test. And as a final point, the thousands of beautiful species of fish in the sea are hidden from the eye and protected from ayin hara because they never put themselves in other people’s faces. Let’s use Adar as the time to work on the lesson of the hidden fish and become truly modest people.